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FREE Things 3: A First Scoop Blog Mini-Series

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. This is the final post in our Free Things Mini-Series – we hope you enjoy the last 25 freebies that are up for grabs. We’d love to hear your local free-finds – please comment below and we’ll be sure to share!

41. Movies

Hitbliss is an online marketing service that allows you to earn credits in exchange for watching selected commercials. You can then use the credits to rent on-demand movies on Hitbliss.com.

42. Microsoft Youth Spark Camps

Microsoft hosts free Youth Spark camps across the country to “get kids of all ages coding, creating games and apps, and having a blast in the process.” You can filter through a variety of programs by age, skill level and time frame.

43. Birthday Desserts

Many restaurants offer free dessert to customers celebrating their birthdays, including Applebee’s, Olive Garden and Chili’s. Most require you to sign up for their free e-clubs. In some cases a purchase is required, and other terms and conditions might apply.

45. Mulch and Woodchips

If you see a public highway crew cutting down trees, brush and limbs in your neighborhood, stop and ask if they’d like dump their load of wood chips at your house instead of hauling them all the way to a public dumpsite. Wood chips are great to use in the garden, flowerbeds and garden paths.

46. Lodging for Travelers

CouchSurfing.com is a worldwide network of more than a half-million folks who will let fellow travelers crash on their couches or in a spare bedroom — for free. The robust website lets hosts and travelers get to know each other in advance.

47. Savings Bonds

Every year, more than 15,000 savings bonds are returned to the U.S. Department of Treasury as undeliverable. You might be entitled to claim saving bonds from deceased loved ones or others. Search for free on TreasuryHunt.gov for savings bonds you might be able to claim.

48. National Park Admission

More than half of America’s national parks never charge admission. Now, to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2016, the National Park Service will open all of its properties for free on 16 days throughout the year.

49. Loaner Tools

Tool libraries are springing up across the country, sometimes as part of an existing public library, where you can borrow tools for free in most cases rather than purchase or rent them. You can find a nationwide directory at LocalTools.org.

50. Birthday Pretzel

If you join Auntie Anne’s Pretzel Perks Program, you’ll get one of their signature or classic pretzels for free for your birthday. Your freebie will be automatically loaded onto your account on the first day of your birthday month and will be available to you for 30 days.

51. Harper’s Bazaar Subscription

Get a free one-year subscription to this popular fashion and beauty magazine when you register on the website ValueMags.com. You’ll receive periodic promotional offers from ValueMags, but you won’t be billed for Harper’s Bazaar, even when the free subscription expires.

52. Wilderness Camping

If you’re into no-frills wilderness camping, try camping for free at national forests and on public lands managed by a number of other federal agencies. The only requirement is that you follow guidelines for dispersed camping.

53. RV Camping

If your idea of camping involves an RV with all the luxuries, there are various places where you can camp/park for the night for free, including the parking lots at most Walmart stores. You can find other free options for RV camping and parking on Allstays.com.

54. Jewelry

FreeJewelry.com offers over 50 pieces of free jewelry, but you need to pay a shipping and processing fee of $6.99 for each free piece you order. They also sell other jewelry at a significant discount.

55. Bagged Produce

You can always tell a cheapskate in the produce section at the grocery store, because they’re the folks taking a minute to weigh a few bags of pre-packaged produce — like bags of potatoes, apples and onions — before deciding which one to buy.

You see, the weight printed on bags of produce (such as a 5-pound bag of potatoes) is the minimum amount each bag must weigh, by law. With a little searching, you can almost always find a bag that weighs more than the minimum weight, but costs just the same.

56. Wi-Fi for Travelers

Getting online for free while you’re traveling is now easier than ever. Free apps, including iVanya, help you find free Wi-Fi service wherever you are, including restaurants, stores, hotels and so on.

57. Home Karaoke

Karaoke enthusiasts and newbies can download the free KaraFun Player software. That way, you can practice your karaoke mix in the privacy of your own home before your world debut at the local karaoke bar.

58. Apple Summer Camp for Kids

Looking for free things to do in the summer? Every summer, Apple Stores host a free three-day workshop for kids age 8-12, where they’ll learn the art of filmmaking by actually doing it. You can sign up to be notified when enrollment for the 2016 camp opens.

59. Birthday Burrito

Sign up for Moe’s Southwest Grill’s eWorld and get a free burrito on your birthday. Allow for a 48-hour processing time to receive your free-burrito coupon. If you need further incentive, you also get a free cup of queso for joining.

60. DIY Home Improvement Clinics

You can save money on home improvements by learning how to do more jobs yourself. Home Depot offers free in-store classes to help you master a wide range of DIY projects. Lowes also offers special workshops for kids.

61. Toys R Us Birthday Club

Sign your child up for Geoffrey’s Birthday Club at Toys R Us, and they’ll receive a birthday card, free gift and even a phone call from the Toys R Us mascot on their special day. If you come into the store on, or near, your child’s birthday, they’ll also get a birthday crown, Geoffrey balloon and a special announcement broadcast to the entire store.

63. Senior Freebies

Age does have its privileges. Seniors — usually age 60 or older, but that can vary — are entitled to a wide range of discounts and free stuff at many restaurants, hotels, retail stores and elsewhere. Some of the best sites for staying on top of the ever-changing list of senior offers include Free4Seniors.com, SeniorDiscounts.com and TheSeniorList.com.

64. Bagels

Join Einstein Bros. Bagels’ Shmear Society — perhaps the best name ever for a restaurant e-club — and get a free bagel and shmear for signing up. You’ll also get a free egg sandwich on your birthday. A purchase is required for each offer.

65. Boating Safety Courses

Boating rules and laws vary by state, and the nonprofit BoatUS Foundation offers free online boating safety courses, based on the specific laws in each of the 50 states. You’ll learn a lot about staying safe on the water, and the online courses are pretty fun. You can find more info and take a course at BoatUS.org.

If you’re still looking for a freebie to meet your needs, be patient and keep your eyes open. Whatever you’re looking for will probably eventually pop up for free under the “free” category on Craigslist or on Freecycle.org. Remember: Free things come to those who wait.

Don’t miss our other freebies! Click here to view the first post and here for the second post of our Free Things Mini-Series.